Three players the Los Angeles Rams are most likely to trade away before trade deadline

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Los Angeles Rams are a team to look out for as General Manager Les Snead is never afraid to make a move. Snead will take every opportunity available to improve his roster, and should continue to work until the deadline strikes today at 4 p.m.

As the rumors fly, here are the three players I believe are most likely to be traded by the Rams, whether that results in a significant return or not (they won’t):

CB Aqib Talib

Talib is in a contract year and is currently owed roughly $4m for the remainder of the season. Here’s the caveat: Talib was placed on injured reserve due to a rib injury. The earliest Talib could return is Week 14, so the team that trades for him would be looking for a potential boost towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. Talib struggled mightily through the first handful of weeks, making it tough to see any team deciding to pounce on the 33-year-old veteran. If the Rams are desperate to open cap space, they may be willing to attach an asset to get Talib moved to another team. One thing of note: the Rams have already shopped Talib and asked him if he wanted to be traded, with the cornerback refusing.

TE Tyler Higbee

Trading a guy the Rams just signed to a contract extension in September isn’t likely, though they did something similar with inside linebacker Alec Ogletree two years ago. Higbee is an extremely replaceable talent that would free only $1m in cap space now, though that number would rise to $6.225m in 2020. Higbee is an incredibly average and underused player, proving the extension was a major head scratcher. Higbee could return something for the Rams while also opening cap space. Reminder: the Minnesota Vikings offered a late day-three pick for Higbee in 2018.

RG Austin Blythe

Blythe — like Talib — is in a contract season and has struggled mightily at right guard. A surprise mainstay in 2018, Blythe has regressed a major amount, murkying the waters as it pertains to a long-term deal moving forward. Blythe is a 27-year-old veteran who’s best served at playing center, though the Rams seem to be happy with Brian Allen at that spot. Moving Blythe does not make sense unless the Rams have a trade in place to return another starting offensive lineman, so just keep that in mind. Moving Blythe would save the Rams roughly $1m in cap space.